Philadelphia

Caught on Cam: Woman Fights Off Man Trying to Sexually Assault Her: Police

A woman fought off a man who was trying to sexually assault her in South Philadelphia last month, according to police.

A 19-year-old woman told police she was walking on the 1300 block of Wharton Street at 1:30 a.m. back on April 20 when she was approached from behind by an unidentified man. Investigators say the man forced the woman to the ground and pulled the top of her dress down, exposing her breast. The woman managed to fight back however and sprayed him in the face with mace, police said.

The suspect then fled northbound on the 1200 block of South Clarion Street.

"It's pretty horrifying," said Laura Chance, who told NBC10 she heard and saw the struggle outside her apartment. "I wasn't sure what was going on until I heard the woman scream, 'fire,' which I know to be code for sexual assault. I ran to my window to find out where she was."

Police released surveillance video of the attack. The suspect is described as a 37-year-old man standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 225 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

If you have any information on his identity, please call the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251/52 or call 911.  

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